restore the natural beauty of the Black River and the surrounding territory;

promote the general health and welfare of the community by supporting sound management practices for the Black River,
Lake Onalaska, and the Mississippi River;

disseminate knowledge and promote scientific inquiries.

BPCA Restoring Prairie and Oak Savanna Habitat

Fritz Funk and Marc Schultz ignite the "prescribed burn"

BPCA members have been working hard this spring to restore the small strip of land northwest of the clubhouse
to prairie/bur oak savanna habitat. Trees were felled and removed and thick woody brush has been cleared. On May 4, 2015
BPCA conducted a "prescribed burn" on a small patch of the area to reduce invasive species and encourage native grass
and forb species. Based on the results of the small burn, additional burns may be used in the future. A number of
fire-resistant bur oak are already present on the site. Brice Prairie likely contained large areas of oak savanna habitat,
maintained by natural and Native American fires. There is evidence of extensive Native American agriculture on Brice Prairie,
with cleared areas almost certainly maintained by fire. Agriculture, housing, and industrial development have removed almost all of the original prairie and
oak savanna habitat. While some planted prairie reconstructions are present around Brice Prairie, it is hoped that the original plant
communities of this site, which may have local adaptations, can be encouraged to thrive from root stock and
seed banks likely present on the site.

Brice Prairie River Cleanup 2015

Some of the 2015 cleanup crew display their "prizes"
(Click to Enlarge)

On a cool cloudy April 25 morning BPCA sponsored its annual "river cleanup" for the Black River delta,
northern Lake Onalaska, and adjacent Mississippi River main channel. A good crew turned out, including members of
Brice Prairie Boy Scout Troop 21 and filled a Town of Onalaska dump truck with discarded 55 gallon drums and many, many
bags of miscellaneous garbage retrieved from the river bottoms and Lake Onalaska shores.

55th Annual BPCA Ice Fishing Derby

Saturday February 7, 2015

Lake Onalaska (North Shore)

Over Half a Century of Hardwater Tradition!!

The winning "Big Fish" Board from the 2015 Derby
(Click to Enlarge)

A balmy 39 degree fair day with little wind made for a great day out on the ice! It was a year for big northerns, some large bass
and a whopper of a black crappie at 2.2 pounds which is not shown in the photos because the fisher
rushed it straight to the taxidermist for mounting.
Derby headquarters was once again the big heated tent on the lower parking lot of
Red Pines Bar and Grill on Brice Prairie.
Fishing started at sunrise and ended at 3:00pm sharp.
Cash prizes were offered for 1st thru 4th place for five fish species: bass, northern, bluegill, perch, and crappie.

Bluebird production was similar to 2013 (3.7 fledglings per box),
despite the late spring season that delayed nesting activity and discouraged third nesting later in the year.
Cold temperatures in the early spring interfered with the first nesting, resulting in poor hatch rates and nestling mortality.
This delay offered competitive House Sparrows, Tree Swallows, and wrens opportunities to dominate boxes normally used by bluebirds.

We also produced 255 Tree Swallows, 161 House Wrens, and 75 Black Capped Chickadees.
These cavity-nesting species readily occupy the bluebird boxes,
especially if they are located on the edge of bluebird habitat.

We attribute our success for producing bluebirds to providing a box with a cavity size and shape that appeals to them,
selection of ideal habitat for box location,
spacing the boxes at least 200 yards, providing predator prevention for every box,
moving boxes that fail to attract bluebirds after one year, and
monitoring weekly to ensure the cavities are available to bluebirds that are searching for a home.
Our technology for bluebird production is effective, and we feel satisfied and
rewarded with the bluebird responses to our efforts and look forward to their return next spring.

A full report on 2014 blubird production as well as those of past years is available on the BPCA Bluebird Page.

54th Annual BPCA Ice Fishing Derby

Saturday February 1, 2014

Lake Onalaska (North Shore)

Over Half a Century of Hardwater Tradition!!

The winning "Big Fish" Board from the 2014 Derby
(Click to Enlarge)

Cold temperatures this winter appeared to slow down the fishing action a bit.
The sun came out late in the day, raising the temperatures to a relatively
balmy 20 degrees, with light winds.
Derby headquarters was once again the big heated tent on the lower parking lot of
Red Pines Bar and Grill on Brice Prairie.
Fishing started at sunrise and ended at 3:00pm sharp.
Cash prizes were offered for 1st thru 4th place for five fish species: bass, northern, bluegill, perch, and crappie.

Bluebird production decreased in 2013, primarily due to the late
spring season that delayed nesting
activity and discouraged third nesting
later in the year.
A total of 796 bluebird houses were monitored on this BPCA-sponsored project in the La Crosse area, producing 2,884 fledglings,
down from the 4,679 produced in 2012.
Cold temperatures
in early spring interfered with first
nesting that resulted in poor hatch
rates and nestling mortality. This
delay offered competitive House
Sparrows, Tree Swallows, and wrens
opportunities to dominate boxes
normally used by bluebirds. Some
nestling mortality was due to black fly
gnat infestations.
A full report on 2013 blubird production as well as those of past years is available on the BPCA Bluebird Page

53rd Annual BPCA Ice Fishing Derby

Saturday February 2, 2013

Lake Onalaska (North Shore)

The winning "Big Fish" Board from the 2013 Derby
(Click to Enlarge)

Over Half a Century of Hardwater Tradition!!

It was back to cold derby fishing this year, with temperatures peaking at 11 degrees with light northwest winds.
Derby headquarters was once again the big heated tent on the lower parking lot of
Red Pines Bar and Grill on Brice Prairie.
Fishing started at sunrise and ended at 3:00pm sharp.
Cash prizes were offered for 1st thru 4th place for five fish species: bass, northern, bluegill, perch, and crappie.
All proceeds from the derby are reinvested in conservation projects around Brice Prairie and Lake Onalaska:
Improved Boat Landings, River & Bike Trail Cleanups, Wood Duck & Bluebird Houses, Fish Cribs, Purple Loosestrife Control,
Swamp White Oak Tree Planting, Emergency Shelters and more.

In 2012 BPCA members produced 4,679 bluebird fledgings, the fifth highest we have recorded since 1992.
Average production this year was 5.4 fledglings per nest box, with one BPCA member achieving 7.7 per box.
The good production was primarily due to the early spring season that favored early nesting activity and more third nesting later in the year than usual.
Black fly gnat infestations and excessive heat caused considerable nestling mortality.
Three heat cycles occurred in July when local temperatures peaked at 103 degrees or more and
set new records for La Crosse County. The modified, vented NABS-style houses offered better survival for advanced nestlings.
Raccoons were filmed successfully predating a nest box this year, despite predator guards on the support posts,
but car wax applied to the predator guard shows promise for prevention.
A full report on 2012 BPCA blubird production is available on the BPCA Bluebird Page

52nd Annual BPCA Ice Fishing Derby

Saturday February 4, 2012

Lake Onalaska (North Shore)

The winning "Big Fish" Board from the 2012 Derby
(Click to Enlarge)

Over Half a Century of Hardwater Tradition!!

Another sunny derby year, with temperatures peaking at 41 with nearly calm winds brought out big
crowds to fish on Lake Onalaska. Derby headquarters was once again the big heated tent on the lower parking lot of
Red Pines Bar and Grill on Brice Prairie.
Fishing started at sunrise and ended at 3:00pm sharp. Cash prizes were offered for
1st thru 4th place for five fish species: bass, northern, bluegill, perch, and crappie.
Funds generated by the derby
are spent on local conservation projects including: Bluebird houses, wood duck
houses, oak tree plantings, river clean-ups, bike trail clean-ups, emergency shelters, fish cribs,
and enhancing public access to Lake Onalaska.

The BPCA recently received recognition and a plaque of appreciation
from the US Army Corps of Engineers for our efforts in partnering with the Corps and
other agencies for over 20 years on projects that include: restoration of floodplain forest,
shoreline and river cleanups, invasive species control, and fish habitat and recreational fishing access improvements.
The Corps' Randy Urich presented the plaque to the BPCA during his presentation at the club's Novemenber 17, 2011 meeting
on the Corps conservation efforts in our area of the upper Mississippi.

BPCA Fledges about 3,300 Bluebirds In 2011

Unfortunately it was a poor year for bluebird production because the cold weather in early spring interfered
with nesting activities, black flies killed hundreds of nestlings, and we had some 100 degree days that
could have been stressful. Yet we managed to fledge about 3,300 nestlings that could help restore better numbers next year.
The full report is available on the BPCA Bluebird Page

51st Annual BPCA Ice Fishing Derby

Saturday February 5, 2011

Lake Onalaska (North Shore)

The winning "Big Fish" Board from the 2011 Derby
(Click to Enlarge)

Over Half a Century of Hardwater Tradition!!

A board full of big fish had been posted by the end of a day that saw huge crowds out fishing on Lake Onalaska.
Fishing effort was likely enhanced by the comfortable mid-20's temperatures with no wind, though skies remained overcast and hazy.
Derby headquarters was once again the big heated tent on the lower parking lot of
Red Pines Bar and Grill on Brice Prairie.
Fishing started at sunrise and ended at 3:00pm sharp. Cash prizes were offered for 1st thru 4th place for
five fish species: bass, northern, bluegill, perch, and crappie.
Proceeds from derby events are spent for conservation projects to improve Lake Onalaska and the Black River Bottoms.

BPCA members fledged 4,915 bluebirds in 2010, slightly fewer than 2009 but still notable.
Wisconsin produced over 30,000 bluebirds, a new record and likely the top state in bluebird production.
The full report is available on the BPCA Bluebird Page

Dress warm and bring a boat if you can! Meet at the Upper Brice Prairie boat landing, across from Swarthout Park, at 8am.
Information and photos of past cleanups on our
Lake/River Cleanups. In case of bad weather on April 24, the cleanup will be re-scheduled for May 22.
page.

50th Annual BPCA Ice Fishing Derby

Feb. 6, 2010

Red Pines, North Shore, Lake Onalaska

The winning "Big Fish" Board from the 2010 Derby
(1st and 2nd place Northerns released)(Click to Enlarge)

Saturday February 6, 2010 marked the 50th year of BPCA Ice Fishing Derbies on Lake Onalaska.
For this special occasion, commemorative stocking caps were given to the first 150 ice anglers entering the derby, and
Red Pines gift certificates were awarded hourly. The big heated tent was again located on the
shore below Red Pines Bar and Grill on highway Z, Brice Prairie, with
fishing starting at sunrise and ending at 3pm sharp.
Mid-20s temperatures and clearing skies through the day made for relatively comfortable fishing compared to some years.
Funds generated by the derby
are spent on local conservation projects including: Bluebird houses, wood duck
houses, oak tree plantings, river clean-ups, bike trail clean-ups, emergency shelters, fish cribs,
and enhancing public access to Lake Onalaska.

The BPCA Bluebird project monitored 1,019 bluebird boxes this year, 42 boxes more than 2008 and produced 5,252 bluebird fledglings,
an increase of 1,024 over 2008. Our bluebird production rate increased this year to 5.15 fledglings per box,
an increase of nearly one fledgling per box over the previous year. Three monitors had bluebird production rates of 6.7 or above,
suggesting an excellent year for bluebird production. Several below freezing periods in April prevented some of those eggs from hatching;
only those eggs under incubation remained safe. Ideal summer temperatures promoted excellent second nesting numbers and even a few successful third nesters.
There were no extreme heat cycles during the later nesting periods, and there was no known mortality due to heat in our non-vented NABS-style boxes.
We also produced 848 Tree Swallows, 316 House Wrens, and 40 Black Capped Chickadees.
These cavity nesting species readily occupy the bluebird boxes, especially if they are located on the edge of bluebird territory habitat.
Full text of the report: "Production of Eastern Bluebirds in Monitored Houses
" (Word Document)

BPCA Member Honored for Bluebird Work

BPCA member Leif Marking recently received the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation Bronze Award at the organization's 2009 state convention in
Tomah in recognition of his extensive work and research contributions to raising bluebirds.
The award calls Marking "the best friend a bluebird could ask for."
Marking is project manager for the BPCA bluebird project.

Mississippi River Cleanup 2009

(Click to Enlarge)

The
Volunteer Mississippi River Cleanup occured on Saturday April 25, 2009.
We had a good turnout despite initially threatening weather: 38 volunteers including 16 youth helped clean up trash and large debris from upper pool 7.
We collected a full dump truck of trash, salvaged 10 plastic barrels for re-use, and disposed of 5 damaged plastic barrels.
Volunteers also brought in 1 tire, parts of two steel barrels, a lawn mower and 1 plastic barrel with about 10 gallons of unknown and
potentially hazardous liquid.
Over the past 16 years this project has cleaned up 1,385 tires, 1,646 plastic barrels, 12 batteries, 37 appliances, and
2 barrels of hazardous waste, with 79 tons of metal recycled and 129 tons of debris land filled.

Scout troop cleanup volunteers with prizes

New BPCA Artwork on Display

Brice Prairie Conservation member and artist Laurie Stiers recently completed a mural
depicting a number of BPCA projects on location in typical Black River bottoms habitat. (more information)

Canvasback Information

USFWS aerial surveys
documented peak numbers of 30,315 canvasbacks on Pool 7 on October 13, 2009. Breeding ground survey abundance had been down sharply in 2008,
prompting the BPCA to help distribute conservation information about the species. Canvasback abundance indices increased again in 2009.
See our Canvasback Information and Identification page for more information